In Jaipur, Congress gheraoed the BJP office demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over exam irregularities. Police used water cannons on protestors.
The protest was led by the President of the Rajasthan Congress Committee, Mr. Govind Singh Dotasra.
Former Chief Minister Mr. Ashok Gehlot, Congress MLAs, former MLAs, state office-bearers, and hundreds of Congress workers participated in it.
On Monday, July 22, at 5 PM, Congress leaders and workers started a foot march from the state Congress office to gherao the BJP office.
The Congress party raised several key demands. These included the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a discussion in Parliament on exam rigging, and fixing accountability against the culprits.
Additionally, the party also protested against the government's 'dictatorial attitude' towards Leader of the Opposition Mr. Rahul Gandhi, MP Mrs. Priyanka Gandhi, and other opposition MPs.
Another significant demand was the withdrawal of FIRs and criminal cases filed by the Delhi Police against students and peaceful protestors.
Congress also demanded an apology from the Prime Minister for the 'repressive actions' taken against the country's students and protestors.
When the Congress leaders and workers were marching peacefully, the police stopped them by putting up barricades on the way.
Upon protesting, the police used water cannons and force on the peacefully demonstrating Congress workers.
Some Congress workers were injured in this action and were immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.
On this occasion, State President Mr. Govind Singh Dotasra heavily criticized the central government.
He said, "Papers for major exams like NEET are continuously leaking, and so far, papers for more than 150 exams have been leaked."
Dotasra alleged that due to its stubbornness, the BJP's central government is not taking any action against the responsible Union Education Minister and other officials, but is instead working to protect them.
He further stated that Leader of the Opposition Mr. Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge are continuously demanding the resignation of the Education Minister and a discussion on this issue in Parliament.
Dotasra accused the central government of adopting an undemocratic and dictatorial attitude, saying that the government is taking repressive action against students and the Congress leadership.
He pledged that the Congress party will continue to struggle shoulder to shoulder with the common people for their demands, including the resignation of the Union Education Minister.
Mr. Swarnim Chaturvedi, General Secretary and Media Chairperson of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee, informed that this protest was not limited to Jaipur.
As per the instructions of State President Mr. Govind Singh Dotasra, sit-ins and demonstrations were also organized by all the Block Congress Committees of the state.
During these protests, an effigy of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi was also burnt. This protest was held to demand the resignation of the Union Education Minister and to condemn the misbehavior of the Delhi Police towards students and opposition leaders.
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Pradeep Budawat
